So it Begins
Words uttered by Theoden King of Rohan from the second edition of Lord of the Rings before the historic battle of Helmsdeep where the horsemen successfully defend against the invading army of Orks and Urukai (If you don’t know what I am talking abt, shame on you – go watch the movie). The exact kind of emotion is what I felt when I heard the vuvuzela’s blare for the first game of the first world cup hosted by the African continent.
This article is going to be a simple breakdown on who I think is going to make it to the round of 16 from each group. I know everyone has their own ideas about the teams over here, but hey, I get to write this and you don’t, so if you don’t agree with me, lets keep it civilized and agree to disagree. ok?
Group A South Africa, Uruguay, Mexico, France
In spite of having a star studded roster, France is on the verge of being knocked out before the round of 16, which might mean, no more moments of brilliance from Ribery or Henry at this world cup. South Africa could also set history here by being the first host to bow out of the tournament before the round of 16. At the moment, Uruguay is in pole position, having racked up 4 points from 2 games and a young Mexico side is coming close second. Still all is left to play, as the top two sides meet each other in the last game and France can still catch up and upstage one of the 2 teams at the top.
Group B Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece
Argentina under Diego Maradona’s stewardship might not win all their games, but they are going to be entertainers for sure. South Korea is playing good football so far and unless Greece rediscovers the form that won them the Euro 2004 championship, I don’t see them getting out of this group. I am making my bets on the Argies to progress in a canter and South Korea to grab the second spot.
Group C England, USA, Slovenia, Algeria
At this moment, Slovenia are surprisingly in pole position in this group, having racked up a close win over Algeria and a draw with the USA reflecting the insanity that is International football. England stands a better chance to qualify from this group than the US and Algeria needs to come up with a near footballing miracle to qualify from this group. Interesting times await this group.
Group D Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana
After seeing the national manschaaft destroy Australia in their opening game (you read that right, that is actually what they call their team for real), I am putting my money on Germany to go all the way to the Semis. I am also betting money on Ghana to pip Serbia for the second spot and Australia to lose all their games.
Group E Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon
Another group that looks seemingly normal on paper, but too close to call. Netherlands is a better team than the rest of the group but not by much. Bets must be on Netherlands to top the group and Japan to edge out the Danes and the Lions for the qualifying spot.
Group F Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
Current world cup holders Italy are clear favorites to top this group, though they are famous in recent history to sleep through most of the group stages and perform only when it really matters. Slovakia are the surprise package of the group with a resourceful set of players and Paraguay bringing some much needed flair to a group that otherwise seems to comprise the who’s who of the catenaccio style of soccer.
Group G Brazil, Portugal, Ivory Coast, North Korea
The Group of Death, as it is famously called, promises much to the neutral football fan. I personally cannot wait for Brazil vs Portugal which would be the highlight of this group. From the first round of games, Ivory Coast and North Korea seem to be ready to provide a real challenge to the other two. I am so impressed with the Ivory Coast, that I am actually expecting them to upstage Portugal and qualify for the round of 16. At least then we won’t have to put up with serial crybaby Cristiano Ronaldo and his histrionics. Go Elephants!!
Group H Spain, Switzerland, Chile, Honduras
European Champions Spain were the first shock casualties at this world cup, but they are still a team so talented that they should still be able to win the group. It is going to be a fight between Chile and Switzerland for the second spot and its going to come down to whether the Swiss can park the bus in front of the goal against Chile just like they did against the Spanish. Spain to qualify and I am not saying anymore.
So that should be it for the world cup group stage, let me know if you think I should go kiss my behind from leaving out your team from qualifying for the next round, but hey so can you – I call it as I see it. More importantly, have fun watching the world cup and I hope the players are so motivated as to make this world cup the best we have ever seen. Ta ta, bye bye, see you and let’s hear it for Africa!!
– Karthik Balasubramaniam
The Happy Slam
I am not even done making and breaking all my new year resolutions and the Australian open is almost half done. That’s how fast the new tennis season starts off. The memory of the US open has still not faded from my mind, and there have been almost two months of tennis following that! Yes, the tennis season is long and grueling. Lots of players complain that they have just a 4 week break and then the same bunch go and play lucrative exhibition matches in the middle east during this break. I never get that. I really doubt
that it even makes sense financially, but that’s perhaps another article for some other time.
This article is about Australian open, which is fast becoming my favorite Grand Slam. There are a number of reasons for that. First, it enjoys the luxury of being the first major event of a new tennis calendar. It comes as a breath of fresh air for both the players and the fans. There are typically no major injuries to players, and most of them are super-fit. They have very little emotional baggage; its easy for them to put behind their disappointments of the last season, and look for a fresh start to the new season. It is the first major
event in the new year for players to make a statement, and so the competitive juices are flowing strong.
From the fans perspective, the itch for rooting players on and watching some tennis is at an alltime high. Similar to players, fans are also looking forward to earn boasting rights among their peers – suicide pools, workplace wagers, fantasy leagues and so many other fancy gadgets. All of this makes for a perfect harmony and sets up the Australian open as an event that everyone looks forward to.
Roger Federer (btw, I am one of those rare non-spanish die heard Nadal fan) calls this “The Happy
Slam”. Everybody seems to be genuinely having fun in this one. I also believe the Australian open offers the most fair surface among all the slams. Its a hard court, but is much slower than any typical hard court. The
ball stops a little after bouncing, but not as much as on the clay courts. It also does not zip through
like in Wimbledon or in the US open. There are no awkward bounces and no major movement issues
like with clay or grass. The player has plenty of time to make a shot, and simultaneously, he can
practically run down any ball and make a defensive play. In fact, the underrated slice works as a
weapon, which is almost unheard of for a hard court.
The ball stops a little after bouncing, but not as much as on the clay courts. It also does not zip through like in Wimbledon or in the US open. There are no awkward bounces and no major movement issues like with clay or grass. The player has plenty of time to make a shot, and simultaneously, he can practically run down any ball and make a defensive play. In fact, the underrated slice works as a weapon, which is
almost unheard of for a hard court. As a result, every player – a slugger like Del Potro, a 1 -2 boom bang like Federer, a counter puncher like Murray, a control freak like Djokovic, or a topsin mogul like Nadal, believes that he can win this. This makes for some intriguing action. There are several momentum shifts and a very high quality of play. The number of five setters for men and three setters for women are far more than in any other grand slam. Furthermore, just like Wimbledon, this is the only slam which does not have a tie break in the last set, which makes the way for some nerve racking drama and tense moments. Just look at the list of previous champions and you will realize the diversity I am talking about – Wilander, Connors,
Lendl, Edberg, Becker, Samprass, Courier, Agassi, Federer, Djokovic, Nadal.
I am writing this article on the eve of the men’s quarterfinals. Last three years have seen three different champions and I am picking a new one his time too – Cilic. Although not a very famous name, it should not come as a surprise to an avid tennis fan. He is not new to the tennis fraternity. He always had the talent but absolutely zero confidence and the tendency to choke at big ocassions. Like his usual self, he almost managed to snatch a defeat from the jaws of victory against del potro, but I believe that will give him the boost or the breakthrough that is needed for any super star’s career.
Quaterfinals:
Fed def Davy
Djoko def tsonga
Cilic def Roddick
Nadal defMurray
Semifinals:
Djoko def Fed
Cilic def Nadal
Championship:
Cilic def Djoko
By the time you read this article, the Australian open would have finished. You will know if my predictions fall on their face and will wonder, why the hell are we listening to anything that this person has to say. Unfortunately, it will be too late by then!
– SAURABH GANERIWAL
Pic Credit:http://www.zimbio.com/
Dec 2009
We are back with our second issue in the month of December.
December is the month when we recap the good and the great moments that left us by.TheBanyanTrees keeping in tradition has made “Reflection” the theme for this month.
Happy Reading! You can read the magazine by clicking on the issuu link below or by clicking on the article links that are listed .
Buy the print version from here
Short Stories
Some Salt,Some Lime, A Song and A Wedding.
What is a wedding without some innocent pranks? Sirpy Jayaprakasam weaves a funny story amidst the backdrop of a good old south Indian wedding
Downcast
The rains bring memories, and Asha walks home drenching in the rain ,carrying the rain drops that seem to grow heavier with each drop.
I watch
A short story by Dhivya Arasappan about the life of a woman as seen by the most unusual member in her life.
Upon Reflection
A short story by filarial about a student, his teacher and his dangerous quest to find the ultimate truth!
Series
Draupadi
“Manasa starts episode 1 of her running series Draupadi. She leaves you gasping for more,yearning to know the secret that Draupadi learns on her death bed.”
Sports
Twenty…on to thirty
Karthik Krishna reminisces about God’s incarnation in the cricket field, Sachin Tendulkar, on his twentieth year in International Cricket.
Poetry
Yet Another Monsoon Rain
Anuradha Chandrasekaran looks back at the wonderful memories she created during the monsoons through this poem
A day that approaches…
Raghuram Godavarthi in this poem ponders about the inevitable
Travel
A Path to Heaven
Prajakta Bhasale describes her trip to the beautiful, serene and unblemished northeastern states of India
Columns
Dude! Where is my coffee?
It is all about finding your prince/swan among the sea of frogs and ducks. Dreamvendor talks about wading
through dozens of frogs and ducks before you find your prize catch in his column
Entertainment
Pearls Among Swine
Aditya Srikrishna evaluates the 5 movies that have been the most underrated in bollywood in 2009
Book Review
Divya Ramachandran reviews the book “The case of the missing servant by Vish Puri”.
Science
Scientifically Literate
Dhivya Arasappan talks about the 5 most intriguing discoveries of this year in the world of science
Refreshing Rendezvous
Students recounting their once in a lifetime meeting with India’s former president. Dr.A.P.J Abdul Khalam
To check out our photography section, check out the web version by clicking on the magazine link above.
Twenty .. on to Thirty
A straight batted solid tap past the bowler, a quick run and punch in the air brought up his 43rd century and 30,065th international run for India. Roll the clock back 20 years and 6 days. A firm footed on drive of a steamy Waqar delivery to the boundary. A curly haired sixteen year old Sachin in a white helment had just scored his first runs in international cricket on a dry-brown Karachi wicket. What about that mighty square cut of Akhtar during the knock of his life at the world cup in South Africa? What about the lightning quick pull shot for six of Andrew Caddick? What about the mighty lofted back-foot straight sixes of Kasprowicz? What about dancing down the leg side to heave Shane Warne over the Anna pavilion at Chennai and the many paddle sweeps? What about that mighty googly to Moin Kahn and that unforgettable three wicket last over in the Titan cup against South Africa?
From there to the deserts of Sharjah, the highlands of South Africa to the shores of Chennai, Sachin has revealed his master class to everyone who has watched him play. Remember his century and 90+ innings in the VB series finals, remember his 175 against Australia a few weeks back. From his first run to most recent, every run, fifty and century he scores to every time he takes the field there is something special – there’s something “Sachin” about it. Is it the effort? Is it the experience? Is it the class? Is it the talent? Surely, Sachin isn’t getting older, he is just getting better.
The quick hands, the ever fast feet, the steady head or the heavy bat haven’t changed and neither has his humility, simplicity or level headed behavior. One thing though has definitely changed – expectation.
That first boundary off Waqar, no one expected. His one run and that punch in the air – a billion did. For the masses, every century becomes an “I told you so” event. Perhaps his greatness and genius lies in this fact that he has higher expectations of himself than what a billion people have of him. His confidence, focus and self-belief every single time he steps on to the crease are unparalleled in the cricketing world and are perhaps thereason he is the most respected cricketer to date. Never in cricket history has someone been so feared and so respected at the same time by opposition teams.
Very rarely in sport is a person lucky enough to serve his nation in such high standing, but in Sachin’s case perhaps it is India that has been lucky enough to have his service for twenty great years. Many a player has become famous just for the fact that they have been associated in some form, even negatively with Sachin. Kasparowitcz is perhaps the greatest example. What is remembered of him is the trashing he got from the great man in Sharjah – Sachin’s own Operation Desert Storm. Maybe the secret to Sachin’s longevity, fame and success is his love for the game. Doubts were raised when Sachin couldn’t score a century early in his career, doubts were raised when he went down with a tennis elbow, doubts where raised when he lost his captaincy, doubts were raised when one saw Sachin in every other ad on TV. His answer was always the same – more RUNS!There is something in a Mcenroe that isn’t in a Borg. There is something in a Woods that isn’t in a Singh, There is something in a Federer that isn’t in a Roddick. There is something in a Schumacher that isn’t in a Hakkenien. That something isn’t talent, it isn’t class, it isn’t confidence – it’s beyond all that. That something is indeed what separates the good from the great and the great from the demigods. If you ever have doubts about Sachin’s demigod status – just ask Warne, McGrath or even Akthar!!
Don’t count the twenty years….If Amitabh and Abhishek can act together, why can’t Sachin and Arjun one day play together? I am sure Sachin can 
Karthik Krishna
